Finding a therapist in Montclair

Montclair is a really unique city. I didn’t realize that so much could be packed into six square miles. It seems as if Montclair has something for almost everyone. College students (and adults) who want to dance can stop by Just Jakes several times per month for live music. Want live music but don’t want to go to a bar? Easy, jazz fest. Looking for some green space? You have several parks you can choose from for some green space. Maybe you want a view. Hop across the border to West Orange and visit the green at Eagle Rock. When it comes to cuisine, Montclair has it all. Fine dining, greasy eating, Thai, Italian, Mexican, and everything in between. If you want to visit NYC, Montclair has 3 train stations for you to pick from. 

However, just because Montclair has a lot going for it, living here doesn’t mean that life doesn’t come up and you don’t need support sometimes. In fact, living in a city with so much going for it can make it seem harder to reach out for help. If you are looking for a therapist, counselor, psychologist, or life coach in Montclair - I’d like to help you find someone who can help. 

I want to help you find a therapist in Montclair 

Below is a list of tips I offer to friends and families when they ask me how to find a good therapist.

Ask someone you trust

Trying to figure out who is a good therapist can feel overwhelming. One of the easiest ways to start is to ask someone you know if they have any recommendations. Once someone finds a good therapist for themselves or a loved one they are usually happy to share that information. 

Don’t be afraid to interview multiple therapists 

Some therapists like myself offer a free 15-minute consultation. Others don’t. With fit being so important, I rarely recommend a therapist who does not offer consultations. Stick with therapist that offer the free consultations. Talk to several to get a sense of who feels right. You have no obligation to stick with a therapist just because they offered you a consultation. 

Fit is very important 

A lot of therapists believe the modality they use is the biggest determinant of treatment outcome. They are completely wrong. One of the two most important factors to what you experience is going to be in therapy is the fit. I cannot stress enough the importance of finding someone that you feel comfortable with. To get the best results from therapy you need to open up and become emotional vulnerable. This can be hard. It only becomes harder if you end up with a statue sitting across from you. Look for a therapist that helps put you at ease and whom you feel you connect with. You owe it to yourself. 

Use a reliable online database 

There are a number of databases available that have therapist profiles on them. The largest data base is called Psychology Today. On there you can filter based on gender, location, what issues they treat, and other filters. This is a low intensity way to get a feel for different therapists before you pick up the phone to call them.

A key piece of advice that I give to people when I refer them to Psychology Today is to read the profiles. These are written by the individual therapists themselves. The majority of therapists write their profiles to sound like a resume. For example, “I attended ______ University and have over 20 years of working with men. 

In my experience my client’s do not care about my education, publications, or years of experience. They only care that I understand them, won’t judge them, and can help them. This is all reflected in my Psychology Today profile. Look at the directories to see if you feel drawn to anyone in particular. 

Ask questions that matter to you 

The main point of consultations it to help you figure out who is the right therapist for you. The best way to do that is to ask the questions that matter to you. If you want to know if the therapist has worked with people in similar situations as you, ask. Or if you want to know what their style is, ask. Ask any of the questions that are important to you. If you find though that during the consultation the therapists talks more about themselves, or you feel unheard, move on. There are plenty of other therapists out there. 

A free therapy consultation in Montclair 

I hope this helps you find the right therapist in Montclair. While there are a lot of therapists in Montclair, and plenty of people are looking for a therapist, not every therapist is the right fit for every person looking for one. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call me at (973)-978-5502 for a free 15-minute phone consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person.